Adjustable feed-roll journal for card feeders



J. B. HOWE ADJUSTABLE FEED ROLL JOURNAL FOR CARD FEEDERS Filed July 29,1922 I 'lillilw' /0 A? Patented July 17, 1923.

JOSEPH B. HOWE, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOE TO GEORGE S. HAB-WOOD & SON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A GOPARTNERSHIP CONSISTING 0FSYDNEY HARTK OOD AND JOHN H. I-IARVJOOI).

ADJUSTABLE FEED-ROLL JOURNAL FOR CARD FEEDERS.

Application filed July 29,

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JosnrH B. Hows, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and resident of Worcester, in the county of Worcester and Stateof Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements. inAdjustable Feed-Roll Journals for Card Feeders, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to card feeding mechanism of the so-calledApperly type and more particularly to adjustable journal means for thefeed and stripper rolls. Commonly the feed rolls, more particularly thelower roll, are journaled in open non-adjust able bearings, but in orderto secure maximum efliciency in operation, it is necessary in accordancewith changing conditions of use to vary the relative position of therolls both with respect to the frame of the machine and to each other,while it is desirable to restrain the lower roll against any undesiredbodily movement and to protect the journals from dust and lint.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide bearings for thefeed and stripper rolls, and more particularly for the lower feed roll,of such character as to prevent improper movement of the rolls and inwhich dust cannot readily collect, and which may be adjusted relativelyto the machine frame and to each other.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of one corner of a card feeder of thetype known in thetrade as an Apperly feeder, showing a portion of thedelivery feed rolls and the stripper roll, and having the devices of thepresent invention applied thereto; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of theparts shown in Fig. 1.

The numeral 1 indicates one of the side members of the frame of the cardfeeder, such frame having suitable journal means (not shown), for atransverse shaft 2, carrying a roll 8 which serves to support and drivea series of endless conveyer belts of which one is indicated at 4:, suchbelts serving in a well known manner to carry the fibre delivered fromthe usual traversing distributor, not shown, to the delivery feed rolls.As the supporting and adjusting means for the feed and stripper rollsforming the subject-matter of the present invention are alike at bothsides of the machine,

1922. Serial No. 578,518.

but one set of such devices is herein shown and described. 2

A bracket 6 is mounted to slide longitudinally upon the frame member 1and this bracket is provided with an elongate slot 7 through whichpasses the lower screw thread edeXtrem'ity of a bolt 8 having a head 9which bears upon the upper surface of the bracket 6, such bolt engaginga screw threaded opening in the frame member 2. A bracket 10 is fixed tothe frame 1 to the rear of the bracket 6 and a capstan headed screw 11is mounted to turn in an opening in the bracket 10. This screw has ahead 12 and a collar 13 which cooperate to prevent axial movement of thescrew with respect-to the bracket 10. The threaded portion of this screwengages a threaded opening 14 in an upwardly directed part 15 of thebracket 6. Thus by loosening the bolt 8 and turning the screw 11, thebracket 6 maybe adjusted longitudinally of the frame member 1.

The bracket 6 is provided at its forward end with a substantiallyvertical face 16.

A part 17 normally bears against the surface 16, being held inengagement therewith by a bolt 18 which enters a screw threadedopeningat 19 in the bracket 6. By loosening the bolt 18, the part 17 may beturned in a vertical plane about the axis of the bolt. The part 17 isfurnished with an opening constituting a journal-box for the shaft20 ofthe lower delivery feed roll 20, such shaft being securely supportedtherein so that undesired bodily movement of the roll is prevented anddust is excluded from the bearing.

A secondary bracket 21 is mounted upon the upper surface of thebracketG. This secondary bracket has a chamber or recess 22 in its lowerface for the receptionof the head 9 of the bolt 8 and is provided withan elongate slot 22 extending upwardly from the recess 22. The bolt 8 isprovided with a screw being immovable in an axial direction with respectto the member 15 and having a threaded portion 28 which engages athreaded opening in an upstanding part 29 carried by the bracket 21. Byloosening the nut 24 and turning the screw comprising the threadedportion 28 the secondary bracket 21 may be adjusted relatively to thebracket 6.

The secondary bracket 21 is furnished with an upstanding member 30provided with a vertically elongate slot 31 through which a bolt 32passes. This bolt serves to position the upper feed roll bracket 33,which is adjustable rectilinearly in a vertical direction by reason ofthe elongate slot 31, and for adjusting it in this manner a screw havinga capstan head 35 and a flange 36 18 arranged to turn in an opening in alug 34 projecting rearwardly from the bracket 33. This screw has athreaded portion 37 which engages a threaded opening in the upper partof the member 31 of the bracket 21. The bracket 33 is furnished with ajournal opening in which the shaft 38 of an upper feed roll 39 ismounted, such shaft being furnished with a gear 40 meshing with asimilar gear, (not shown). carried by the shaft 20, thus compelling theupper and lower feed rolls to turn synchronously in opposite directions.The upper part of the bracket 33 is furnished with a forwardly anddownwardly inclined surface 41, and one arm 42 of an angle bracket isarranged to slide upon the surface 41. The arm 42 of. the angle bracketis furnished with an elongate slot 43 for the reception of a bolt 44having threaded en gagement with an opening in the bracket 33. Foradjusting the arm 42 longitudinally of the surface 41, screw having ahead 46 is arranged to turn in an opening in a lug 45 projectingfrom theupper end of the member 42. This screw has threaded engagement at 47with an opening in the upper end of the bracket 33.

The angle bracket is also provided with an arm 48 arranged substantiallyat right angles to the arm 42 and inclining downwardly and rearwardly.The arm 48 is provided with an elongate slot 49 for the reception ofabolt 50 having threaded engagement with an opening in a bracket 51which is provided at its upper end with :1- lug 53 projectingrearwardly. This lug has an opening in which turns a screw having a head54, such screw having a threaded portion 55 engaging a threaded openingin the upper part of the arm 48. The bracket 51 may thus be adjustedlongitudinally of the arm 48 by turning the last-named screw and may befixed in position by tightening the bolt 50. At its lower end thebracket 51 is provided with a bearing 56 in which a shaft 57 turns. Thisshaft carries the usual stripper roll 58.

With the above arrangement of parts it is evident that the upper andlower feed rolls and the stripper roll may simultaneously be adjusted ina direction longitudinal of the frame member 1. The upper feed roll andthe stripper roll may also be adjusted in a horizontal directionrelatively to the lower feed roll. The position of the stripper roll maybe varied both in a vertical and in a horizontal directionby'suitableadjustment of the bracket members 42 and 51. Furthermore. theupper feed roll may be. adjusted vertically with respect to the lowerfeed roll, while the hearing for the lower feed roll may be adjustedangularly in a vertical plane. It is thus evident that by thearrangement described substantially universal adjustment of the feedrolls and stripper roll are provided for so that they may be relativelypositioned in accordance with almost any conditions which may ariseduringuse. It also clear that the shaft journals are enclosed andprotected from th. accun'iulation of dust and dirt therein, thusprolonging the usefulness of the mechanism and making clearing of thesame at frequent intervals unnecessary.

hat ll claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 01" the UnitedStates is:

l. A card. feeding machine comprising a sup n'irting frame. upper andlower feed roll brackets mounted thereon. the lower bracket having anopening therein constituting an enclosed journal-b-ox. a lower feed rollsupported in said jOllllltlldJOX and means for adjusting said lowerbracket relatively to the frame.

Q. A card feeding machine having afranic. a feed roll bracket comprisinga member mounted to slide upon the frame, means for moving said memberrelatively to the frame and for clamping it in adjusted position. a parthaving an enclosed journal hearing therein. a lower feed roll turning insaid bearing. and pivot means for adjustably securing said part to saidmember.

A card feedingmachinehaving a frame a bracket adjustably supported forhorizontal movement upon the frame, and a feed roll bearing memberpivotally secured to the bracket to swing in a vertical plane andadapted to be secured in adjusted position.

4. A card feeding machine having a frame, a feed roll bracket comprisinga slide member adjustable horizontally relatively to the frame, saidmember having a vertically disposed face, a part engaging said face andprovided with a journal opening for a lower feed roll, and a bolt foradjustably securing said part to the slide member.

5. A card feeding machine of the class de scribed having a frame and aplurality of feed rolls supported by the frame at the delivery end ofthe machine, a vertically adjustable bearing for the upper feed. roll.and a pivotally mounted enclosed journal bearing for the lower rolladapted to swing in a vertical plane.

6. A card feeding machine having a frame, a lower feed roll, ahorizontally adjustable bracket supported upon the frame and providedwith an enclosed journal bearing for said roll, a second horizontallyadjustable bracket mounted upon the first bracket, a verticallyadjustable member carried by the second bracket, and an upper feed rollj ournalled in said member.

7. A card feeding machine having a frame, a feed roll bracket mountedthereon, a second teed roll bracket mounted upon said first bracket,independent means for adjusting said brackets, a clamping bolt extending through both of said brackets and into the frame, said bolthaving a head engageable with one of said brackets, and a nut havingthreaded engagement with the bolt and engageable with the other of thebrackets. V

8. A card feeding machine having a frame, a bracket mounted to slidesubstantially horizontally thereon, means "for adjusting said bracket todesired position, a lower feed roll bearing adjustably secured to thebracket, a second bracket mounted to slide substantially horizontallyupon the first bracket, meanslor adjusting the second bracketindependently of the first bracket,

an upper feed roll carried by the second bracket, and common means forlocking said brackets inadjusted position.

9. A card "feeding machine having a frame, a feed roll bracket mountedthereon, said bracket having an elongate slot, therein, a second feedroll bracket mounted upon the first bracket and also having an elongateslot, a bolt passing through the slot in said first bracket and havingscrew threaded en gagement with an opening in the frame, said bolthaving a central head bearing upon the upper face of the first bracket,an upper threaded portion passing through the slot in the upper bracket,and a nut engaging said upper threaded portion and bearing against theupper face of the second bracket.

10. A card feeding machine comprising a frame, a horizontally adjustablelower feed roll bracket, a'horiz-ontally adjustable upper feed rollbracket mounted upon the lower bracket, means for adjusting saidbrackets ii'idependently of each other, and a stripper roll bracketmounted upon the upper feed roll bracket and adjustable in a verticalplane.

Signed by me at Boston, Mass, this'l9th day of July 1922. JOSEPH B.HOWE.

